Devil May Cry: The Animated Series

Lore & Background

The series centers on Dante, who runs a devil-hunting business called Devil May Cry while struggling with constant financial debt. He is aided by his agent Morrison, who finds him jobs and offers life advice, and he develops a father-daughter relationship with Patty Lowell, a young orphan he saves in the first episode. The show also features the return of series regulars Trish and Lady, who occasionally cross paths with Dante. Trish is a demon created by Mundus who later becomes a freelance demon hunter, while Lady is a human demon hunter and one of Dante's oldest friends. The main antagonist is Sid, a lesser demon whom Dante spares early on but later kills when Sid attempts to revive the powerful demon Abigail. The series mostly consists of self-contained stories, but a season-long plot introduced in the first episode comes to the forefront in episodes 10 through 12.

Reader's Guide

Devil May Cry: The Animated Series holds significance as an official animated extension of the video game franchise, produced by the acclaimed studio Madhouse. Its placement between the first two games allows it to explore Dante's character in a more episodic, monster-of-the-week format, which a 2026 retrospective review praised for presenting familiar characters in new contexts. The series introduced two original characters—Patty Lowell and J.D. Morrison—who became part of the expanded lore. Critical reception was mixed: some reviewers appreciated Dante's characterization and the interactions between Dante, Lady, and Trish, while others found the writing flawed. The series was licensed by ADV Films in 2007, later transferred to Funimation in 2008, and made its North American television debut on the Funimation Channel in September 2010. It was also listed among 38 anime and manga titles banned in China by the Chinese Ministry of Culture on June 12, 2015. The anime's art style was noted for refining the horror/fantasy aesthetic of the games while capturing a melancholic tone reminiscent of the early titles.

Did You Know?

• The series is set between the events of Devil May Cry and Devil May Cry 2.
• Dante's weapons Ebony and Ivory are a pair of Colt .45 pistols, and his sword Rebellion is concealed in a guitar case.
• Patty Lowell is revealed to be the last living descendant of a sorcerer who imprisoned the demon Abigail.
• The series was banned in China on June 12, 2015, by the Ministry of Culture.